A Forest Escape to Brinnon

Monday was a beautiful day for a drive to the Peninsula.




We were making our way to Brinnon to visit the Reimanns, and I was getting scared. Kevin was already getting his "Alan" on. Those two are out of control when they get together!!

The driveway to their cabin in the woods - always my favorite moment before arriving at their house.

The first thing we did upon arrival was take a walk to the river nearby. This is sort of a tradition.

All the kids like to throw rocks into the river...

... while the ladies referee the kids and catch up on girl talk.

Emery & Isaac

Having fun!

Such a gorgeous setting!

Later on Isaiah and Emery showed Isaac their chickens (after, ahem, terrorizing the poor escaped chickens with a screaming chase back to their coop).

I guess they have grown accustomed to it since they weren't phased for very long, calming down enough for a little show and tell petting.

We were pleased to spend the night after Alan & Krysten charmed us into the idea (they didn't have to try very hard). After we got the kids to bed, we ate ice cream and played Marbles / Aggravation. Boo, the boys won. But we had a great time! It's just too bad that we only get to do this once a year.

Caleb & Anna... and Ninjas?

Our last dinner together in Washington was spent with my dear younger bro Caleb and his lovely wife Anna. It was fun to see their cute apartment for the first time and to have some yummy Italiano together.

The newlyweds, with one year down and many more to come.

Okay, so we are pretty sure we've figured out that Isaac likes blondes... Anna was his first love before Naomi and Krysten.

We were having such a great time, hey why not bring out the ninjas?

Okay that was a little crazy... time to go anybody?

Unfortunately and regretfully, yes. We reluctantly said our good-byes but look forward to seeing them again at Thanksgiving.

The Kevin Self Invitational

This year Kevin came up with an idea to see a bunch of friends at once in a creative and fun way. Why not start his own annual golf invitational? A number of friends, old and new, showed up to this event, and it was a hit!

Happy Birthday Isaac!

Our "baby" is TWO years old today!

thinking about what to wish for

um, how am I supposed to eat my cupcake with this fire in the way?

blow out the candle!


blow on it?

uh, on second thought, let me help you with that...

I like it!

Say, "Cupcake!"

And here is the live action... Kevin is still up in Washington, so he wasn't able to enjoy our quiet little dinner with the Fittons. However, he did call Isaac earlier today to wish him a happy birthday. Meanwhile, Isaac was his adorable self for us as he made a show with his long awaited birthday cupcake...

Isaac, you steal your mother's heart every time. You are such a blessing in our lives and one of the truest joys I know in life. We love you so very much, and we thank God for you every single day.

Summertime

I guess it's about time we update you with what we've been up to so far this summer...

We've been hanging out with friends...

...taking horseback riding lessons...

... and swim lessons.

We've been building towers and carwashes...

... visiting the construction site...

... and learning a thing or two about sand.

We've been going on expeditions...

... and catching up on some reading...

... serious reading.

And of course, having lots of fun with Mommy & Daddy...

They love me...

... and I think they are something special too!

Praise God for Music!

My Help Comes From the Lord
The Museum

When sorrows come and hope seems gone
You're the Rock I rest upon
When waters rise and I can't breathe
You're the love that rescues me

Out of the darkness
I lift up my eyes
Unto the hills
I feel my faith rise

Maker of heaven, giver of life
You are my strength, my song in the night
My refuge, my shelter
Now and forevermore
My help comes from the Lord

When I'm broken, scarred by sin
Death gives way to life again
When I suffer, when I'm bound
In You I'm free, in You I'm found

Out of the darkness
I lift up my eyes
Unto the hills
I feel my faith rise

Maker of heaven, giver of life
You are my strength
You're my refuge
Now and forevermore

My help comes from the Lord
My help comes from the Lord

God of the Impossible

Sarah Reeves

My biggest storm, one drop of rain

My raging fire, a candle flame

My deepest ocean is like a puddle at Your feet

My darkest valley, my greatest mountain

They are Your prairie for You are constant

Your ways are higher than any other

So I will sing

God of the impossible

Maker of all miracles

I stand in awe of You

I'm so amazed by how You

Reach into my brokenness

Make me beautiful again

I believe

Yes, I believe

Nothing is impossible with You

When I am weak

You are my strength

And all Your power is made complete

You turn my failure to victories

Hallelujah, hallelujah

God of the impossible

Maker of all miracles

I stand in awe of You

I'm so amazed by how You

Reach into my brokenness

Make me beautiful again

I believe

Yes, I believe

Nothing is impossible with You

Healer, Healer

I'm restored by a healer

Provider, Provider

I am healed by a provider

Deliverer, Deliverer

I'm saved by a deliverer

Savior, my Savior

I'm redeemed by a savior

God of the impossible

Maker of all miracles

I stand in awe of you

I'm so amazed by how you

Reach into my brokenness

Make me beautiful again

I believe

Yes, I believe

Nothing is impossible with You

Light Up the Sky

The Afters

When I'm feeling all alone and so far to go

The signs are nowhere on this road guiding me home

When the night is closing in

It's falling on my skin

Oh God will You come close

Light, light, light up the sky

Light up the sky to show me You are with me

I, I, I can't deny

Oh I can't deny that You are right here with me

You've opened my eyes so I can see you all around me

Light, light, light up the sky

Light up the sky to show me You are with me

When starts are hiding in the clouds

I don't feel them shining

When I can't see beyond my doubt

The silver lining

When I've almost reached the end

Like a flood You're rushing in

Love is rushing in

Light, light, light up the sky

Light up the sky to show me You are with me

I, I, I can't deny

Oh I can't deny that You are right here with me

You've opened my eyes so I can see You all around me

Light, light, light up the sky

Light up the sky to show me You are with me

So I run straight to Your arms

You're the bright and morning Sun

To show Your love, there's nothing You won't do

You are with me

You are with me

Noni, You are Loved

It was a great day. We had successfully surprised Noni with bringing her siblings and family from California to visit. That day she leaned over to Kevin and said in a quiet voice, as if to tell a secret, "Since everyone is here, why don't we go somewhere for dinner? How about Olive Garden, my treat." Kevin smiled and replied that it sounded like a nice idea. (Little did Noni know that we had other plans for her that night).

Kevin, Noni and I drove to the restaurant to together. It was a little bit of a drive, and the restaurant is located in a sparsely populated corner of Mesa. Noni commented about how she didn't recognize this area. We pulled into the restaurant parking lot, and she realized, "This doesn't look like the Olive Garden..."

The smiles on our faces grew even wider as Kevin and I responded, "We know! We had something planned for you... this is Anzio's Landing." An Italian restaurant set on the edge of Falcon Airfield, where we could watch the airplanes land and take off against the beautiful backdrop of an orange Arizona sunset. Not to mention, the food was delicious!

As we met up with everyone else, the surprise was finally unveiled to Noni. We were all there to celebrate her 80th birthday early (her actual birthday is Oct. 9).

She was so surprised! It was fun to watch her squirm under the limelight since she doesn't like to be the center of attention. Amid the toasts and the gifts, we could tell that this deeply touched her heart.

My dearest Noni, there is no one else like you. When I think of you, I think of generosity, hospitality, unconditional love, unwavering faith, selflessness, contentedness, wise stewardship, and beauty. You have taught me more than you know, and I am proud to call you my grandmother. You have been one of the most influencial women of the Faith in my life, and for that I am forever indebted to you. Thank you for your godly and loving example; I cherish you and the legacy you are leaving in my life.

Sweet Nothings

This may be insignificant to some of you, but I'm rejoicing today! For the past couple of months, I have been persistently - and sometimes annoyingly - teaching Isaac the basic manners of "please and thank you." I'm determined to have well-mannered children, and I have hope after this morning's simple, yet large reward! Alas, my dogged effort seems to be reaping the harvest.

When handed his juice, my sweet son replied, "Thank you, Mommy." All by himself, without the typical promptings!

Good manners sound so lovely when they roll off the tongue of a small child.

Next project: "You're welcome!" and "My pleasure!"

John 3:16

... As attempted by Isaac.

I was inspired by my friend Cheryl's blog post entitled "John 3:16 by Evan." Evan is her two-year-old, and, well, her story was just really cute.

So I gave it a try, and here's how it went...


Me: Isaac, we're going to learn a Bible verse! Would you like to try?
Isaac: Yeah!
Me: Okay, we're going to learn John 3:16. Can you say, "John"?
Isaac: Don.
Me: Three.
Isaac: (Blank stare, probably unsure of what exactly we were doing here.)
Me: Threeeee.
(pause)
Isaac: Fooouuuurrrr. (accompanied by a big grin and followed by cheering)


What the hay, I cheered with him. We have, after all, been learning how to count to ten.

Rounding Out the Month of May...

First came Noni...

which is always fun

REALLY fun

She plays outside with me.

We go for long truck rides together.

She even helps me with my truck repairs too.

And we have a lot of photo shoots because I'm really cool, and Noni likes to make sure she has hundreds and hundreds of pictures of me to take home with her.

One week later came Great Noni...

Isaac {loves} Great Noni.

With TWO Nonis around, I got double the spoiling!

Papa came the same day...

I was excited to see Papa.

And the next day we saw the rest of the crew!

Uncle Caleb (a.k.a. "Nunco Cay-wub")

... with Auntie Anna (a.k.a. "Intie"), with whom I am thoroughly and utterly smitten.

And as a surprise for Great Noni, her brothers Joe and John, niece Angela, sister-in-law Wanda, and nephew-in-law Ted came out from California for a surprise birthday party she knew nothing about.

And here is where the fun began... More to come!